How to Turn With a Trailer: Right Turns, Left Turns and Tight Corners
Turning is one of the first things that surprises new towers. You make a right turn the way you always have, and suddenly the trailer tire is up on the curb, or worse, clipping a sign post. That happens because a trailer doesn’t follow your truck’s path. It cuts the corner. Once you understand why, […]
Towing a Trailer on the Highway: Merging, Lane Changes and Passing
Highway driving is where a lot of new towers feel the most nervous. Around town you’re going slow and have room to think. On the freeway, everything happens faster, and your truck and trailer are longer, heavier and slower to stop than the traffic around you. The good news is that safe highway towing comes […]
Do You Need a Special License to Tow a Trailer?
Most people towing a camper, boat or utility trailer for personal use do not need a commercial driver’s license (CDL). But “no CDL” doesn’t always mean “no special license.” Once a trailer gets heavy enough, some states require a higher class of regular (noncommercial) license or an endorsement. Here’s how to figure out where you […]
Towing a Trailer in Snow, Ice and Rain: Winter Towing Tips
Short answer: if you can avoid towing on snow and ice, do. If you can’t, slow way down, triple your following distance, make every input smooth, and set up your rig before you leave. A trailer adds weight that wants to keep going when you want to stop or turn, and slick roads take away […]
Towing a Trailer in High Winds: How to Stay Safe
Short answer: slow down, give yourself more room, and be ready to park. Wind pushes on the big flat side of a trailer, especially a tall travel trailer or empty enclosed cargo trailer, and that push can start sway. There’s no single wind speed that’s safe for every rig. A heavy, well-loaded trailer with a […]
Maximum Towing Speed by State: Where Trailer Speed Limits Are Lower
Short answer: in most states you may tow a trailer at the posted speed limit, but a few states set a lower maximum for vehicles towing. California caps every vehicle towing a trailer at 55 mph, and Washington caps “vehicles in combination” (which includes any vehicle towing a trailer) at 60 mph. Posted limits and […]
Trailer Brake Requirements by State: When Does Your Trailer Need Its Own Brakes?
Every state sets its own rule for when a trailer must have its own brakes, and the rules don’t line up neatly. Some states set the threshold by the trailer’s gross weight. Some treat travel trailers differently from utility trailers. Some also require a breakaway system that applies the trailer brakes automatically if the trailer […]
How to Tow a Trailer Safely: A Beginner’s Guide
This is the complete beginner’s guide to trailer towing — everything you need to know before you hook up your first trailer and drive out of the driveway. We cover towing fundamentals, the numbers you must know, gear selection, safe loading, driving with a trailer, backing up, and the most common first-trip mistakes. To tow […]
What Is GCWR? (Gross Combined Weight Rating Explained)
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) is the maximum allowable combined weight of your tow vehicle plus loaded trailer. Learn what GCWR means, how to calculate it, and why it matters more than towing capacity alone.
Trailer Tongue Weight: The 10-15% Rule Explained
Trailer tongue weight is one of the most critical factors for safe towing — and one of the most misunderstood. Get it wrong and you risk dangerous trailer sway, poor vehicle handling, and potentially a serious accident. This guide breaks down trailer tongue weight so you can load your trailer correctly every time. Want to […]